Legislation

The International Maritime Pollution Accountability Act of 2025 establishes new reporting requirements and imposes fees on large cargo vessels engaged in "covered voyages" to account for their carbon dioxide and criteria air pollutant emissions. These fees are designed to fund significant investments in decarbonizing the shipping industry, modernizing the U.S. Jones Act fleet, and improving air quality monitoring in port communities. The fee structure will terminate if the International Maritime Organization implements a comparable global emissions fee.

The MEDIC Careers Act of 2025 aims to streamline the transition of military medics into civilian healthcare careers by developing recommendations to align military training with civilian licensing requirements. It also establishes a pilot grant program to fund eligible healthcare organizations that hire, train, and retain separating service members in medically underserved areas. The goal is to reduce barriers and ensure medics can quickly utilize their valuable experience in the civilian workforce.

The Skilled Workforce Act establishes a new federal tax credit for non-foreign entities investing in projects that expand job training for high-demand fields like advanced manufacturing and high-tech. This credit equals 30% of the qualified investment in eligible property used to upgrade career and technical education institutions. The program is capped at $500 million in total credits and requires the Secretary to establish a certification process within 180 days.

The Fulfilling Promises to Afghan Allies Act aims to streamline and enhance support for Afghan nationals who aided the U.S. mission. It establishes new processes for remote refugee processing, creates a pathway to conditional permanent resident status for eligible allies already in the U.S., and creates a new Special Immigrant Visa category for certain relatives of U.S. service members. The bill also mandates increased reporting and interagency coordination to improve efficiency and transparency in these resettlement efforts.

The Ensuring Coast Guard Readiness Act amends existing law to allow the President to authorize the construction of certain Coast Guard vessels in foreign shipyards under specific national security circumstances. This exception requires the foreign shipyard to be located in a NATO or mutual defense treaty country and mandates that the foreign construction cost be lower than domestic costs. Furthermore, the President must certify to Congress that the shipyard is not controlled by entities based in the People's Republic of China.

The Preventing HEAT Illness and Deaths Act of 2025 aims to combat the nation's leading weather-related killer by establishing a coordinated federal strategy to address extreme heat. The bill creates an Interagency Committee and a National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS) within NOAA to improve data sharing, research, and response planning. Furthermore, it authorizes a new Community Heat Resilience Program to provide financial assistance for local projects focused on reducing heat-related health risks, prioritizing vulnerable communities.

The Marijuana 1-to-3 Act of 2025 mandates the Attorney General to reschedule marijuana under federal law. Specifically, this bill requires the immediate transfer of marijuana from its current Schedule I classification to Schedule III. This change in legal status must be finalized within 60 days of the Act's enactment.

The High Occupancy Vehicle Lane Exemption Reauthorization Act extends the federal regulations governing High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) facilities. Specifically, this bill pushes back the expiration date for these existing HOV facility rules from September 30, 2025, to September 30, 2031. This ensures the current federal guidelines remain in effect for an additional six years.

This Act prohibits "covered foreign entities," primarily defined as those connected to the People's Republic of China, from acquiring or leasing U.S. agricultural land. Covered entities currently owning such land must divest within one year or face severe daily fines and potential criminal forfeiture. Additionally, the bill imposes a temporary two-year ban on these same entities purchasing residential real estate, with separate penalties for non-compliance. The legislation mandates the creation of new enforcement offices within the Departments of Agriculture and Commerce to oversee compliance.

The Data BRIDGE Act mandates that the FCC update its national broadband map to specifically include the locations of agricultural areas. This update must be completed within 180 days of the bill's enactment. To ensure accuracy, the FCC is required to consult with the Secretary of Agriculture and other relevant stakeholders during this process. This action aims to better identify broadband coverage gaps affecting farms.

The Enduring Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act makes a key change to federal criminal law by permanently extending the \$5,000 special assessment fee charged to non-indigent individuals convicted of certain offenses. This fee, which was previously set to expire in 2025, will now continue indefinitely. The revenue generated supports victims of trafficking.

The Ensuring Naval Readiness Act amends existing law to allow the Navy to construct certain naval vessels or major components in shipyards located in NATO or Indo-Pacific treaty partner nations. This exception is permitted only if the foreign construction cost is lower than the domestic cost. Furthermore, the Navy must certify to Congress that the foreign shipyard is not owned or controlled by any entity based in the People's Republic of China.

The Stop Foreign Propaganda Act codifies existing sanctions against Iran and establishes new penalties for U.S. persons who knowingly provide paid media services to sanctioned foreign media entities. These sanctions include asset freezes and visa denials for violators. The bill also mandates an annual Treasury Department report detailing enforcement actions and foreign government payments to media outlets spreading propaganda.

The Medical Debt Relief Act of 2025 aims to shield consumers from the negative impact of medical bills on their financial standing. This legislation prohibits the reporting of any adverse information related to medical debt on consumer credit reports under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Furthermore, it bans lenders from using a consumer's medical debt history when making decisions about granting credit.

The Seedlings for Sustainable Habitat Restoration Act of 2025 authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to expand partnerships for ecosystem restoration activities. This allows the Forest Service to fund a broader range of groups, including universities and tribal organizations, for crucial work. The bill specifically enables the use of funds for collecting native seeds and growing seedlings necessary for habitat replanting efforts.

This bill requires states to reimburse the federal government for the costs of deploying military forces, such as the National Guard, when state or local obstruction of federal immigration enforcement leads to civil unrest. If a state fails to pay the resulting invoice from the Department of Defense within 180 days, the President is authorized to withhold federal discretionary grant funds to cover the debt. This legislation establishes financial accountability for local interference with federal immigration operations.

The Star-Spangled Summit Act of 2025 mandates the issuance of a 10-year special use permit for the maintenance of a U.S. flagpole at Kyhv Peak Lookout Point in the Uinta National Forest. This permit prioritizes Robert S. Collins, followed by other qualified local individuals or groups, without charging any land use fees. The Act also exempts the permit process from the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements.

This resolution honors the life and legacy of human rights activist Father Stan, who died in Indian custody in 2021 after being imprisoned on charges later linked to fabricated digital evidence. It details his tireless work defending the rights of marginalized Adivasi communities in Jharkhand. Furthermore, the resolution strongly encourages the Indian government to conduct an independent investigation into Father Stan's arrest, incarceration, and death. It also sends a global message against the mistreatment of human rights defenders.

The Access to Fertility Treatment and Care Act mandates that private health insurance plans covering obstetrical services must also cover a broad range of fertility treatments, ensuring cost-sharing rules are comparable to other medical services. This legislation also extends mandatory fertility coverage to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) and TRICARE plans if they cover maternity care. Furthermore, the bill establishes new benefits for veterans and their families through the VA, requires State Medicaid plans to cover fertility treatment, and adds fertility care to Medicare coverage with a 100% payment rate and no deductible for patients starting in 2026.

The Strengthening Protections for Domestic Violence and Stalking Survivors Act of 2025 updates federal law to broaden protections against intimate partner violence by expanding the definition of an "intimate partner" to explicitly include dating relationships. This bill also introduces a new federal prohibition on firearm possession for individuals convicted of a misdemeanor crime of stalking. These changes aim to close loopholes and ensure comprehensive safety measures for survivors of abuse and harassment.